Reinforced concrete tank



Nav. 13, 1945. c. KAND'ALL I REINFORCED CONCRETE TANK Filed Aug. 17,v1945 BY /y@ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEREINFORCED CONCRETE TANK Charles Kandall, New York, N. Y. ApplicationAug-ust 17, 1943, seria1N0;4e9,011

16 Claims.

This invention relates to reinforced concrete tanks such as settlingtanks or aeration tanks for sewage treatment or the purification ofwater and for similar purposes.

Such tanks were heretofore constructed with a single division wallseparating the adjacent tanks. Provision for expansion of the floorslab, due to changes in temperature was made by expansion joints in theslab within the tanks. The expansion joints split the tankslongitudinally. In such construction the oor slabs consisted of a seriesof cantilevers. A portion of the floor slab between the free end at theexpansion joint and a vertical wall acts as a cantilever and itsconstruction is less economical than a slab supported at both ends.

When one side of the division wall is empty and the other side full,tension is developed on one face of the slab and Wall. When thecondition is reversed and the first side is full and the other sideempty, the tension is on the opposite face of the slab and wall. Thiscondition requires reinforcing steel in the top and bottom of the slaband on both sides of the wall.

Furthermore the split in the floor slabs weakened the construction, andthere was always the likelihood of leaks into and out of the tanks atthe expansion joints.

In tank construction as heretofore practiced, if one side of theexpansion joint settles more than the other side, a complete rupturemight result.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for theconstruction of settling tanks or aeration tanks or tanks for similarpurposes, in which the expansion joints in the floor slabs within thetanks are eliminated by the use of walls between adjacent tanks whichare split longitudinally so as to form a split wall or double wallpermitting expansion of the floor slab, each tank remains an integralwhole unit without any split. With such construction there is economy inmaterial and labor as less steel is necessary in the floor slab and lessconcrete need be used. Furthermore, each tank is a complete unit initself instead of being two parts with an expansion joint.

It is another object of this invention to provide a highly improved tankconstruction of the character described which shall save in expansionjoint material, including copper water stops, and in which leakage fromand into the tank is elime inated, and whichshall be compact andpractical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

' They invention accordingly consistsrn the features of construction,combinations of elements, andY arrangement of parts which will beexemplined in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.'4 A

In thel accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a tank embodying theinvention;

Fig.l 2 is a top plan view of the tank;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of one of the division wallsand portions of Ithe bottom slabs on opposite sides thereof; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational, cross-sectional Aview through a division wall,illustrating a modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates for the purpose ofillustrationV only, a settling tank embodying the invention for use insewage disposal or water purification works, it being understood thatthe invention may be applied to aeration or other tanks. The tank I Ilcomprises end walls II, side walls I-2, a transverse wall I3 parallel tothe walls I2 forming a series of tanks on either side thereof, andvertical division walls I4 parallel to the Walls II. The oor slabs. I6are monolithically 'constructed with said walls.v 'The walls may beformed with usual channelsortroughs I8 inthe top surfaces thereof, andsaid troughs` may be provided' with openings for weirs I8; I

Inl tanks as heretofore constructed, the oor slabs I6 were splitlongitudinally within the tank to form expansion joints. Due to suchconstruction the floor slabs had to be made heavy and reinforcing steelwas necessary at the top and bottom of the slab. The reason for thenecessity for heavy reinforcement was due to the fact that the slabsbetween the free end at an expansion joint and a division wall acted asa cantilever. The slabs had to be constructed to resist the stresseswhen a tank on either side' of a division wall was full and the otherside empty. For this reason the bottom slabs Von such prior constructionnecessitated steel reinforcement at the top and at the bottom.

Furthermore the expansionjoints were subject to leakage as each tank wasin fact two part tanks. `If one side of the split in such priorconstructions settles more than the other side, a complete rupturemight. result. In the present construction the expansion joint or splitin the oor's'labs lis eliminated.` Instead the division walls I4 aresplit longitudinally in vertical planes, as at 23 from the bottomupwardly to a point beneath the upper end thereof, thus forming doublewalls. Expansion in the oor slab is permitted due to the splits 23. Withsuch construction each tank is a complete unit in itself and the tanksare not parts as in prior constructions. Below each division wall theremay be a concrete block 22.

Furthermore the floor slabs of the tanks do not act as cantilevers sothat there is a saving both in concrete and reinforcing steel. Thus inthe present construction reinforcing steel rods need be used only at thetop of the oor slabs,

eliminating steel from the bottom of said floor end walls, and bottomslabs, and a vertical divislabs.

It will be further noted that there will be no leakage because theexpansion joints are eliminated from the inside of the'tank and there isno likelihood of a tank rupturing in the middle;

There is furthermore a, saving of expansion joint material and the tanksare stronger than yprior constructions.

"In Fig. 4 there is vshown a modified constructionin which thedivisionwall Ma is` formed with a split 23 as in tank 15D, but the wallIll'between the split 23 and the trough or channel I8 is split as at 4t`forming an expansion joint which may be provided with a copper waterstop 43.

If desired the tanks may be supported on piles should the characterofthe soil necessitate such construction.

The thickness of the concrete in the door slabs may also be reduced-dueto the fact that the expansion joint has slab.

It' will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objectsof; this in'- been eliminatedl in the oor blocks beneathsaid division walls.

7. A reinforced concrete tank having side and sion wall, said wall beingformed with a vertical, longitudinal` dividing space extending to theunders'urfa'ce ofthe tank, and terminating below the upper end of thedivision wall, the bottom slab of the tank having steel reinforcementsat the top only.

8. A multi-tank unit having walls to divide the tank into a plurality ofVindividual tanks, said walls being divided Vmedially thereof to permitexpansion 'of the individual tanks.

9. A tank structure ,havingl end and side walls anda bottom slab and'transverse vertical walls, said walls being formed with expansion jointsextending to the undersurface of thevbottomV slab vab ventionareachieved, and which is well adapted l to meet the lconditions ofpractical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or showh'in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described# 'my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A tank structure having side walls and floor slabs and division wallsdividingV the structure into a series of tanks, saidV division wallsbeing double and each beihgl formed witha dividing space extending, tothe bottom surface of the structure;

' 2. A tankl structure having sidewalls and door slabs andv divisionwalls dividing the structure into a series of tanks, said divisionwallsbeing double` and each being formed 'with a. dividing spaceextending to the bottom` surface of the structure. said 'division wallsbeing formed with troughs at their upper ends.

3..A reinforced concrete tank structure.. including avertica'hintermediate wallto divide the structure into a 'plurality of.tanks, said wallbeing divided fromitslower ejnd upwardlyjtopermitexpansi'on of the floor slab of the tank at opposite sides of thedivision.

14.., A. reinforced concrete tank structurey including z'a.,v.erti c'alEintermediate wall to divide the structure into a plurality of tanks,said wallbeing splitjfrom. itsV lower end. upwardly to permit expansjioninjth'e bottom slabof the tanks at oppO-f site .sides of the. split,said wally having anl expansion joint at `its upper end.

whereby the tank ,structurei's divided into a .plurality of individualtanks, expansion of the tanks being permitted at said expansion joints.

10. A tank 'structure having end and 'side walls and a bottom slab andvertical division walls, said division walls comprising double walls'with space between them, said space extending to the undersurface, ofthe `bottom slabcf the structure whereby the 'structure is divided intoa plurality of individual tanks, expansion oi theV tanks being permittedat said spaces. l

l1. A tank structure having endl and'4 side walls and a bottom slaband'division wall, said division wall being a double wal'liwith aspacebetween themextending to the'nndersurface yof the" bottom slab,wherebyV thetankl structure isl divided into a plurality 0fA individual'tanks. `expansion of the tanks being permitted at'rsaid space, said'vdi'- vision side and end wallsgbeing 'formed with channels in theiruppervendi4 l 12. A tank structure having end and side walls and abottom slab. and division wall, said division wall, being a d'o'ublewall withi auspace, between them extending to the undersu'rface of thebottom slab, whereby the tank structure isgdivicledA into a plurality ofindividual` tanks,` expansion-,of the tanks being permitted. at saidspace, said division, side andA end wallsbeing formed'withychannels intheir'upper end, `and saidx divisionjwalls having expansion, jointsbetween the 'channels therein and the spaces therein. y ,A

13. A tank structure having sidewalls anctfloor slabs and division`Walls vdividing the structure into a series of' tanks, saidjdivi'sionwalls being double and ea'chfbeingformed with a dividing space extendingto 'thebottom surface offthe structure,` said dividing. spaces beingless in width than the thickness of'saiddivision walls.

14. A reinforced concrete'. tank vstrucimre,4 in,- cludinga vertical,intermediate wall to'divide the structure into plurality Vof tanks..Said'wall being divided 'from itslowerend `upwardly to Vpermit expansionoi the o'or slab Vof, the tank at opposite sidesV ofthe Ldivision, s1.id4 Wall .being of' ,unifo'im width.

15. A tank structur-hating efad sidewalls 16. A reinforced concrete tankstructure including a vertical intermediate wall to divide the structureinto a plurality of tanks, said wall being formed with a space extendingfrom its lower end upwardly to permit expansion in the bottom slab ofthe tanks at opposite sides of the split, said walls being split abovesaid space, and an expansion joint at said split.

CHARLES KANDALL.

